College Out Of High School is a Waste of Money

[trex]

if you want to waste a lot of money, go to a four year college right out of high school. I'm not saying don't go to college, just don't go right away. Most 18 year olds don't have a clue what they want to do and college is an expensive way to find out. If you have to go, go to junior college where prices are more reasonable for two years and transfer. This is even better since the first two years are all basic courses anyway.

Most college students graduate with a huge amount of debt. Life sucks for them from day one in the working world. If your parents pay for your college, don't think it was a good deal. That money could have purchased your first house if you had done it right.

First, so many degrees are completely worthless when it comes to increasing your earning potential. If you really want a philosophy degree, get it at night school in your free time cause it won't put any extra money into you pocket.

Second, unless you really know what you want, you are just going to float in college. Take a few years off and find out what you love. Then you will have the motivation to finish your degree asap and you will appreciate a lot more how hard it's going to be to pay off those student loans having already worked a few years.

College isn't useless for everyone. It can help improve your income if you choose a degree that requires certain training. But unless you already know that is exactly what you want, then college is throwing a lot of money down the toilet.

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by trex

if you want to waste a lot of money, go to a four year college right out of high school. I'm not saying don't go to college, just don't go right away. Most 18 year olds don't have a clue what they want to do and college is an expensive way to find out.

Most college students graduate with a huge amount of debt. Life sucks for them from day one in the working world.

What ridiculously broad generalizations. Almost everybody I know went for a four-year college degree straight from high school and they are all doing just fine. And quite a few changed their mind and their major along the way. Most graduated with at least some debt, some with quite a lot, and never felt that life sucked for them. They were all very happy to have a degree and a job and a salary.

I have no idea what turned you so against college but what you posted certainly does not represent the average student.

[trex]

I don't think it's a broad generalization to say that most high school students don't know what they want to do and would be better served finding out what that is before committing to spend a lot of money.

I also never said I am against college. I'm against people going to college for the sake of that is what they are supposed to do rather than to spend some time to figure it out before wasting money.

[cicy33]

I actually can see both sides. I had no idea as a young kid what I wanted, having a baby so young stopped me for a few years but it also gave the me the opportunity to see what I wanted. However, I do think college is a necessity if you want more in life than walmart or mcdonalds. and I have no issue with either by the way, I used to work at mcdonalds. I just personally knew I didn't want to do that kind of work. I love office work and that is what I do. Because I went back to school has really helped me get the jobs I wanted. It didn't stop me from getting work, just made it alot easier to get paid better. I am not sure if it is a corporate thing or not but our local mcdonalds will not hire you unless you are either in school or a graduate. you cannot drop out and get a job there. You must either be in ged classes, or have a ged to work there. Which, I think is great!

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by trex

I don't think it's a broad generalization to say that most high school students don't know what they want to do and would be better served finding out what that is before committing to spend a lot of money.

That's hard to say, though. Going to a liberal arts college exposes students to a wide range of topics, fields and interests. Even though I did know what I wanted to do, I still took courses in English, history, philosophy, science, math, art and more. I learned a lot about a lot of things. I think that is what helps students figure out what appeals to them and what they want to pursue as a vocation. I think that's part of why so many students change their majors during college. They have the opportunity to learn about other fields that they may not have previously considered. Had they not gone to college, they may never have discovered their interest in that area.

If you don't go right to college from high school, what do you do instead? Get a job, I suppose. You are pretty limited as to what kind of job you are going to get as an 18-year-old without a college degree. How will doing that help you decide what you want to do with your life?

I agree that people shouldn't go to college just for the sake of doing it, but I think the process is part of what helps you decide what you want to do with the rest of your life.

[trex]

Originally Posted by disneysteve

If you don't go right to college from high school, what do you do instead? Get a job, I suppose. You are pretty limited as to what kind of job you are going to get as an 18-year-old without a college degree. How will doing that help you decide what you want to do with your life?

I don't think figuring out how you don't want to spend the rest of your life is a bad thing. In fact, I think that can motivate kids that don't know what they want to start figuring it out. A few years of seeing the opportunities without a college education will make most people want to go to college with a specific purpose.

If you really don't know, it make more sense to me to take a wide variety of courses at a local community college to help narrow them down rather than two years at a 4 year college that costs a hell of a lot more.

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by trex

A few years of seeing the opportunities without a college education will make most people want to go to college with a specific purpose.

I guess I'm not sure what opportunities you will really get to see. I think you'll get exposed to a lot more ideas and concepts in college.

If you really don't know, it make more sense to me to take a wide variety of courses at a local community college to help narrow them down rather than two years at a 4 year college that costs a hell of a lot more.

That's a totally different argument and I agree with you there. Don't go off to Harvard at $40,000/year if you have no idea what you want to study.

[Pitman]

Speaking from experience, if I could go back 5 years, I would've took a year, maybe two to figure out what I wanted to do before rushing right into college. I started DeVry 3 weeks after I graduated high school with a computer engineering major, and completely hated it. I "dropped out" after only a month, not before DeVry charged me $1200 of course.

After that, I went to Monroe College, with a Computer Programming major. There almost every class was extremely boring, this was around 03 - 04, and I simply didn't know exactly what I wanted to do, so my rents knowing I liked computers, advised me to go with that. I again, dropped out, feeling completely lost, and at that time I was going through a draining relationship. Last but now least following in my mother's footsteps I took an interest in Radiology (X-Ray), and went to a school in Westchester that specialized in that, first day I knew it wasn't for me. Overall after all of that I spent somewhere towards $15K - $18K give or take, including books.

But I'm glad to say I figured what I want to do which is a Writer, I wrote poetry in my Senior of High School, and one of them was almost published. So this Sept. I'm going back to school, with 100% interest in my major, and my job has programs with college reimbursement. But my point is, if I would've just took a year off after HS to realize what I really wanted to do, I would've saved a lot of money, and time.

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by Pitman

But my point is, if I would've just took a year off after HS to realize what I really wanted to do, I would've saved a lot of money, and time.

I guess what I wonder is what would have occurred in that year that would have made you realize that writing was what you wanted to do, as opposed to computer work. Would you have settled on writing as you did had you not had those other experiences?

[dynobyke]

that's only true for certain people, dont forget EVERYONE is a different person. 2 friends of mine went straight to a university, blazed right through the 4 years and landed well-paying jobs right on schedule. other kids take longer to get through, or will change majors halfway through. i even know some people who went straight into college, and then after getting their degree, took a year off to job hunt. no matter how you cut it, everyone wants/needs a break whether its between HS-college or college-job, but everyone is different

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by dynobyke

everyone wants/needs a break whether its between HS-college or college-job

Since when? I went from high school to college to med school to job. I didn't take a break, didn't want a break and didn't need a break. I've been out of school for almost 18 years and I'm doing just fine.

[Pitman]

Originally Posted by disneysteve

I guess what I wonder is what would have occurred in that year that would have made you realize that writing was what you wanted to do, as opposed to computer work. Would you have settled on writing as you did had you not had those other experiences?

There's no real way of knowing. Even though I became wiser, and I realized what I wanted to do with my life, it was extremely stressful, expensive, and time consuming. The post starter said if you go straight to college after high school, your wasting money, and from my experience I can agree. I also know a lot of people who I graduated with, who went straight to college, and are doing fine, but they knew exactly what they wanted to do. I at that moment was lost, it should'nt have took me $15K to "find myself". If I could trade the $15K for a year off after high school I would.

[aevans1206]

I knew exactly what I wanted to do when I went into college, graduated in four years and am working in that profession now. However, I know many, including my brother, who wasted a ton of money on schooling never completed or used. I think our high schools need to become more in tune with what students need and want and need to enact more programs that help with career interest development, life skills acquisition and college choices. Our youth are left high and dry to fend for themselves in terms of choosing a life.

[Snave]

I'm with Disneysteve on this on. So you take a year off and do what? Unless you have the money to travel the world or decide to go on a mission or something of that nature, how do you decide at 19, what you couldn't at 18? I would think that college would give you an opportunity to explore more career choices than time off would. At least you could take some courses in a few things you are interested in and determine what might interst you. Or at a minimum at least you can determine what DOESN'T interest you (I think Pitman can attest to this). I went straight from HS to 4 years of college and on to a job for the last 10 years. Along the way, I have done some traveling, met my wife, started a family, found many hobbies that I enjoy, etc... Yet, I still don't know "what I want to do with my life." The reason I say this is b/c my career doesn't define me. Some people will find a career they live for and is their true calling. It's what gets them out of bed every morning - congrats to them. Others, like myself, will find something that they can earn a living at so that they can enjoy all of the other aspects of their life. Don't get me wrong, I don't hate my job. In fact, I do enjoy it. However, I could take it or leave it if I had to. Again, it's not what defines me. With that said, my 4 year degree gave me a jump-start into the real world and has afforded me the opportunity to do many other things.

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by Pitman

The post starter said if you go straight to college after high school, your wasting money, and from my experience I can agree.

I understand that was your experience, but also understand that lots of others have a different experience. I had plenty of friends in college who came in with one career in mind and graduated with a different one. When they started studying in the field, they found it didn't really appeal to them and something else did. Almost all finished in 4 years, so they didn't waste any time or money in the process.

I also know plenty of people who went to college, got a 4-year degree and are now working in a field pretty much unrelated to their degree. Does that mean their whole education was a waste? I don't think so.

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by Snave

thing of that nature, how do you decide at 19, what you couldn't at 18? I would think that college would give you an opportunity to explore more career choices than time off would. At least you could take some courses in a few things you are interested in and determine what might interst you. Or at a minimum at least you can determine what DOESN'T interest you

You could spend that first year taking core classes that you'll need to graduate regardless of your major - English lit and comp, history, art, philosophy, a lab science... Even if it ultimately means it takes you 4-1/2 or 5 years to get your degree, you'll be well on your way and have time to explore various options and meet with your advisor to discuss what to pursue.

I just don't see what a year off after high school would accomplish for most people.

[sweeps]

What does taking a year or two "off" after high school mean? How could flipping burgers or sitting around playing video games for a couple years and delaying when you can earn the big bucks be better than going to college?

As was mentioned above, college gives you a great opportunity to get exposed to lots of careers. Your first 2 years you're taking core courses that can apply to just about any career.

Sitting around playing with your Wii isn't going to bring your career aspirations into any more focus.

[project15]

taking a year off after high school keeps a lot of people from going back to school until much later in life - if ever. you just get stuck in a dead end low paying job and claim that you dont have the time or money to go back to school. Just finish the schooling while you have that momentum.

[InDebtInDC]

I'm not sure I agree with this. I started attending college at 17. I finished an engineering degree 3 years later, and went back for a business degree. I also minored in liberal arts. My friend got his EE degree at 19.

I can honestly say 100% without a doubt that I wouldn't be where I am today without my education. There is just no way that you can do legal work without a college education. No way.

I also disagree with putting off school. School, like money, is an enabler. If you know what you want, school can get you there. If you don't know what you want, school can still get you there if you put your resources to good use and use your time wisely. Work with counselors and get some experience in diferent fields to find what you like.

If you have no idea what you want and nothing can change that, then there's no purpose to school, or life for that matter. Still, having a college degree opens up new jobs for you that you wouldn't get otherwise.


As a recruiter, I strongly strongly urge everyone to get a technical degree. It makes you much much more marketable. Most companies won't even consider you for professional positions if you don't have a degree, even if you have 100 years of experience.

Originally Posted by project15

taking a year off after high school keeps a lot of people from going back to school until much later in life - if ever. you just get stuck in a dead end low paying job and claim that you dont have the time or money to go back to school. Just finish the schooling while you have that momentum.

I agree with this 100%. If I knew back at 17 what I know now, I am 100% confident that I would be a millionaire by now.

[MonkeyMama]

Actually, I think there is middle ground here.

When I read the OP's post I strongly identify. I have a huge problem with shelling out six figures on my kids when they turn 17/18, just as my parents did with me. Because most of the people I know from high school (the smart ones) did just that but had no idea what they wanted to do. Money down the tubes, and debt out their ears.

Likewise, I also totally agree with the flip side. I am not sure why everyone needs time off, and it is true that if you skip a year it is very likely you will never go back. I think education is very important, and that advice is shaky ground.

When I went to school I had no idea what I wanted to do, but I quickly figured it out and graduated at 22 and jumped straight into my career. I can't imagine where I would be today if I had dilly dallied. (Also, my dad thought he knew what to do, but the career counselors at his community college steered him to a far more rewarding/fitting/profitable career. That is the thing about college - you get lots of guidance).

Likewise, I would recommend going to an affordable school (community college, state) and biding your time until you know what you want to do. Then if you need to go to the expensive private school for your Masters or whatever, you have the means. Plus the first 2 years are just basic requirements anyway. Get those out of the way!

I know so many people who did it backwards and it was a hardship to come up with the money to follow their dreams because they wasted it on a fancy undergrad degree when they had no idea what they wanted.

So think about what you are doing and tread carefully. But I don't think skipping college for a few years is the answer.